Disappointing that Pompeo is backing health compact

U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, is developing a reputation as a serious lawmaker who is interested in serious solutions. So it is disappointing that he is one of six members co-sponsoring a resolution enabling states to form their own health care compact – a misguided attempt to circumvent the Affordable Care Act that could also enable a state takeover of Medicare. Kansas is one of nine states that passed legislation in support of forming a health care compact – over the passionate objections of many senior citizens. But even some of the GOP state lawmakers who voted for that bill admitted that it was a partisan, nonserious effort, because they didn’t believe Congress and the president would ever authorize the compact. It’s disappointing that Pompeo added his name to this charade. Also of note: Secretary of State Kris Kobach wrote a letter to some GOP members of Congress last month arguing that only Congress, and not the president, has to approve the compact. Not only was this claim quickly dismissed by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, but Competitive Governance Action, the Houston-based group behind the compact, also disagrees with Kobach’s legal opinion. – Phillip Brownlee